Feeling in this mood, she was not unwilling to see Mrs Jeal. Here, at least, was someone on whom she could vent her rage. With an imperious gesture she ordered the woman to be admitted, and received her with a stormy brow. Mrs Jeal smiled. She knew that she had the upper hand, and was not to be intimidated by stormy looks. Waiting till the servant had departed and the door was closed, she introduced herself.
"I have to speak to you on important business, my lady," she said, with assumed meekness, and addressing Mrs Gabriel by a title to which she laid no claim. This was done to accentuate the later part of the interview. Mrs Jeal was quite as well prepared as was Mrs Gabriel to make herself disagreeable. She also was out of tune.
"What business can a woman like you have with me?" demanded Mrs Gabriel, with scorn, and put up a _lorgnette_ to freeze Mrs Jeal with a look.
But Mrs Jeal had borne the looks of even greater ladies than Mrs Gabriel. "It is strange, is it not, my lady?" she sniggered; "but I have something to talk about which will interest your ladyship very much."
"Indeed!" Mrs Gabriel looked more scornful than ever. "And I believe you have to do with this precious discovery?"
"I have, my lady. Mr Haverleigh is now Lord Morven. I proved his right to the title. You see, my lady, I was a nurse at Kilspindie Castle, and I stole his lordship when a child."
"How dare you speak to me like this?" cried Mrs Gabriel. "Do you not know that I can have you arrested for such an admission?"
"Oh, no; you cannot, my lady," retorted Mrs Jeal, coolly; "only Lord Kilspindie can do that, and he has let me go free."
"Then you leave this place," said Mrs Gabriel, haughtily. "I'll have no one in Colester likely to corrupt the morals of the people."
"Ah, you have great power here, my lady--great power," mocked Mrs Jeal.
Mrs Gabriel's blood grew cold as she saw the look in the woman's eye. "I don't understand you. Leave the room and the place," she said.
"All in good time, my lady," replied Mrs Jeal, calmly, and took a seat. As this was more than Mrs Gabriel could bear, she rose.
"You infamous creature!" she cried furiously. "Out of my house, or I'll have you thrown out by my servants."
"_My_ house, _my_ servants, _my_ estates!" sneered Mrs Jeal, keeping an eye on her victim. "Are you sure you can talk like that, my lady?"